Tails in the news

CPD’s Animal Abuse & Control Team gets a new leader

The Chicago Police Department has doubled the manpower for its Animal Abuse and Control Team, and has appointed a new team leader who is anxious to increase his department’s efforts to include not just enforcement, but education.
“It goes beyond law enforcement now,” says Sgt. Brian Degenhardt, who took control of the team in September. “I’m really going towards educating police about the connection between child abuse, domestic violence, and animal abuse.”
Degenhardt says that 70-80 percent of domestic-violence homes also have incidents of animal abuse. Targeting juvenile abusers often helps officers find young victims of abuse, and may prevent future violence by the offender.
“In each of the recent major school shootings, the offender was a male who had abused animals,” Degenhardt says. “When you look at it from an intervention standpoint, you’re probably saving animal and human lives down the road.”
By educating the entire police force, not just his eight-man team, about the various dangers surrounding animal abuse, Degenhardt says he can further his personal philosophy of good policing: Protect those who cannot protect themselves. But he says it is local neighbors, not his fellow officers, who will help most.
“When neighbors call us and voice their suspicions about potential animal abuse or dog fighting in their area, we’re able to develop our investigations,” he says. “I want to publicize all the potential outcomes of animal abuse so that our neighbors can and will help us even more.”

Anderson Animal Shelter recognized for fighting domestic violence

It seems a strange honor for an animal shelter, but the Anderson Animal Shelter in Elgin has been declared a winner in the annual Community Crisis Center’s Partners in Peace, an awards ceremony celebrating those who help combat domestic violence.
“Actually, there is a strong connection between domestic and animal abuses,” says Sarah Hill, executive director of the facility. “Animals are used as objects of control in many abusive situations, with the abuser threatening to kill a dog or cat if they don’t get their way.”
To help alleviate such situations, the Elgin shelter provides a foster-rescue site for such animals, taking in pets of those at the Community Crisis Center. Five such animals have been sheltered in 2006.

Callous cockroach stunt angers PETA

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were furious with amusement park Six Flags Great America’s Halloween Fright Fest gala because of its cockroach-eating competition. The Gurnee park, along with the Six Flags parks around the country, granted patrons unlimited line-cutting rights on all rides and attractions for anyone willing to scarf down a live Madagascar hissing cockroach (measuring in at a colossal three inches in length). PETA members argued that the stunt is cruel and inhumane while park officials claimed that the bugs are healthy to eat, containing nutrients and proteins. The contest ran through October.

New ordinance would crack down on people with dangerous dogs

In response to two recent dog bites that hospitalized a young girl, a Waukegan politician is proposing a plan that would increase liability for guardians in the northern suburb.
First Ward Alderman Sam Cunningham’s plan would require all dog guardians to include their pooch, regardless of breed, on their insurance policy or at least make their insurance company aware of the animal. Non-compliant residents could accrue fines of $500 or more.
“If your dog bites someone, we’ll ask for tags and proof of insurance,” Cunningham says. “If you can’t provide that insurance, and your insurance company doesn’t have knowledge of the dog, you’ll be fined $500 and the animal will be taken into storage until it is known by your insurance.”
He says his plan, which would add these provisions to Waukegan’s leash ordinance, is not meant to add undue stress to guardians, but to act as a deterrent to those with vicious dogs.
“If you want to be a good [caretaker], then you would have the insurance coverage needed, but you wouldn’t ever use it,” he says. “The goal is for this to be a deterrent, and to help those potentially injured in dog-bite situations: Who is going to be responsible for medical bills of victims of bites? The mother of a child victim? Is that fair?”
The council expects a revised draft of the ordinance ready for the Nov. 20 meeting.

Chicago police officer receives humane award

The ASPCA named Sgt. Steven C. Brownstein of the Chicago Police Department “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” in their recent 2006 ASPCA Humane Awards Program. Brownstein, a member of the Chicago Police Department since 1982, was chosen for his dedication to combating dog fighting and animal cruelty in Chicago throughout the course of his police career. He has served on the city’s Animal Abuse Control Team for the last seven years. Brownstein and his team have recovered more than 5,000 animals—mostly dogs—and made more than 700 arrests for animal cruelty and dog fighting. He lives in Chicago with three dogs, all of whom were recovered from abusive situations.